Oil-level gauge



June 15 1926.

B. U. HILLS OIL LEVEL GAUGE Filed March 18. 1922` 'venient, but also is generally the occasion Patented June 15, 1926.

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURTON U. HILLS, or'cnrcaco, rumors. OIL-Laver. GAUGE.

Application led Iarch 18, 1922. Serial No. 544,793.

My invention belongs to that general class of deviceslmown as gauges or measuring apparatus, and relates -particularl to a simple type of gauge particularly adapted for use on a well known type of automobile for determining the amount of lubricating pil in the crank case ofl the engine.

The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is simple, compact, durable, efficient, reliable, convenient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. More particu-l larly it has as an object the production of a reliable gauge or measuring device which may be easil and conveniently installed, and which will at all times provide means\ for quickly and accurately determining the amount of oil in the crank case without requiring reachin under the car to manipuate any1 pet-coc which is not only inconfor soiling the hands or wearing apparel, and as a result the il levelis not iven the attention that it should have. he preferred form of device illustrated is such that it consists of few parts, is noiseless and free from vibration, yand in every way foolproof. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and escribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and de scribed, and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding Partsr- 1 Fig. 1 isa view in elevation of my devlce as it appears when installed, a portion of the lautomobile' and engine being shown 1n dotted lines;

F ig. 2 device; Fig. 3 is a View in elevation, with a portion cut away to show the construction;

Fig. 4 is substantially a sectional vlew on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a view partly inelevation and" with portions broken away, the elements shown partly disassembled.

Referring to the drawings,and part1cularly Fig. 1, 1 represents a portion of the englne, carried by the usual brackets 2 from the framel 3, forming a. part of the chassis.

is a sectional view through the I have also shown a portion of the apron 4 and running board of fender 5. My device includes a tubev 6 connected at one end of the crank case, with the outer end extended through theapron 4, and it may be mentioned that a bushing or sleeve 7 may be provided., as shown, which provides a bearing for the outer end of the tube; The tube 6 .1s .connected with the fitting 8, preferably arranged, as at 9, for threaded engagement with the crank case, taking the place of the usual pet-cock. However, I generally prefer to provide a pet-cock 10.on the ittin 8. I have also` shown in Fi 1 the pet-co 11 which is at a higher leve ordinarily this being placed at the normad level of the oil in the crank case. I have indicated the oil level as at L, but generally the level is satisfactory if at some point between the two pet-cock openings, it being preferred, however, that it be substantially at the level of the-upper opening at which the pet-cock 1l is located.

The tube 6 may be secured to the fitting 8 in any preferred manner, preferably substantifally as shown, in which case the itting is provided with the threaded art 14 into which the tube 6 projects, 12 eing a nut and 13 a compression ring which will tightl ip the tube when the nut 12 is turned' dwn. ductile metal, the ring 13 may be contracted sufcient to slightly indent or corrugate the plpe, as indicated at 15. This particular construction, however, in itself forms the Where the tube 6 is of a l subject matter ofv a separate application and need not be described in detail herein.

Arranged within the tube 6 and removable therefrom, is a rod or bar 17 upon which I prefer to provide suitable gradations 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 or the equivalent. There may also be marked thereon the words Low, 0. K. and Too much, or their e uivalents, or any other identifying mar s. to indicate desired information. noted, the tube 6 is suiiiciently large or the .rod is suiiiciently small so that they are not a close lit. Generally, I pefer'to provide means for preventing the rod from touching the walls of the tube vso that there will be As will -be no rattle or vibration. As shown, a resilient i y member 23 is secured to the rod, in the case illustrated by extending the same through the opening 14, a link or ring 25 being arran ed over the ,'free ends. 4The member 23, w ich is preferably of resilient matev tion. The inner end rial, engages the walls of the tube 6 and maintains the rod 17 centrally therein, but in such manner that it will not vibrate or be noisy, This construction also permits the easy withdrawal of the rod. At the outer end of the rod I prefer to provide a head 27, by means ot which the rod may be grasped and withdrawn from the tube. In this connection, I prefer to provide an inwardly projecting part 28 which has a slight are at 29 which will cause the part to tightly fit the interior of the tube when fully seated, and yet permit its ready removal or insermay be tapered as at 29 to permit its being easily and quickly insei-ted in the tube. By making the same as shown, while it tightly tits the tube and may even slightly expand the tube, so as to be retained in place, and yet there is not enough bearing to cause trouble in seating the same or withdrawing it from the tube.

In use, assuming that the device is installed substantially as shown in Fig. l, or in any equivalent manner; oil in the crank case or other receptacle, depending upon the use to which the device is put, maybe readil and accurately determined by withdrawlng the rod from the tube and noting the height ot the liquid in the tube as indicated by its mark on the rod. If it extends to the gradation 20, it shows that the oil lever is 0. K. or normal, and satisfactory for the most eicientrunning. If it is above, as for example at 21, it indicates that there is Too much oil in the crank case and some should be drained o. On the other hand, if the oil only reaches a portion of the rod below the gradation 20, for example 18, or does not indicate at all, then it may be readily noted that there is an insufficient quantity of oil in the crank case and that more should be added to prevent injury to the mechanisms. It will be particularly noted that with this construction, where the same is installed as shown or in substantially this manner, the rod may be grasped conveniently from the outside of the car and without even raising thehood. It is not necessary to crawl under the car or to reach under, thereby soiling the hands or clothing, as is generally the case where the oil level is determined by manipulating the pet-cocks. It also enables the amount of the operator to determine the level accurately and without guess work, as in the case where only the pet-cocks are used, only the high and low levels' can be conveniently ascertained. In this connection with only pet-cocl s it will be noted that the operator might observe that the oil was above the low level, and carelessly relying on this, start off on a trip and when after a few miles the oil has dropped below the low level. .Relying on his previous observation this would not be immediately obvious to him. With my improved gauge, however, he may determine to a nicety just how much oil is needed and add just enough to bring the same up to the normal level.

While I have particularly referred to the device as applicable for use in connection with a well known type ot' automobile engine, obviously the apparatus may be used wherever found applicable, and may be modiied in size, shape or materials to meet the particular installation.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device of the kind described and in combination, a chambered fitting constructed for attachment to a reservoir and communicating therewith, a tube carried by and communicating with the chamber in said iitting, a rod projecting ilto said tube from the open end to a point adjacent said tting, means for removably securing said rod in the tube and closing the open end of the tube,rmeans for centering the inner end of the rod in the tube and preventing transverse play thereof in the tube, comprising a resilient wire extending transversely through the rod and bent lengthwise thereof, and means for connecting the free ends of the wire to the rod.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

BURTON U. HILLS. 

